New to Game and Forums - Need Advice

[Curry]

Originally Posted by Erenor

Bards are the Jack-of-all-Trades class. They can cast a few mage spells, they can pick pockets, they can fight better than mages, they can wear heavier armor than thieves, they can use a few heavier weapons than thieves, and they have a special ability called Bard Song which improves the morale and luck and fighting ability of your fellow party members while played. Personally, I've never really kept either of Baldur's Gate's bards for very long. I don't enjoy that style of play, but some people swear by them. If you want to play a bard, though, definately make your own so you can adjust them your own way and get high hit points and such. They can be useful in their own way.

Bards also get high lore bonuses, if I remember correctly +10 per level up. They're really useful for identifying items.

[CFM]

Bards can fight, but not as well as Fighters.

Bards can cast spells, but not as well as Wizards.

Bards can Sing, but Priest spells buff up a party better.

Bards can Pick Pockets, but have no other Thief skills.

Bards have high Charisma requirements, but Paladins always seem to be higher.

The Point:
Bards are good, versatile, all-around support characters.

[velm]

Baldurs Gate is a great game and a great series. I went through it a few times with different professions. The easiest time i had was as a human fighter with 18 str, 18 dex, 18 con, 8 int, 8 wis, 8 chr.
-Minsc is a good choice
-jahiera is a good mage, specializes in offensive magics, if I recall.
-Imoen, awesome, awesome, awesome thief. Deck her out with as much dexterity items you can and the best short bows and arrows around and have her pelt the enemy with arrows till they can't take it anymore.

Those are the best characters I remember. khalid was so-so, a bit of a whiner, but average, the druid with him was, again, so-so.

great story, great gameplay, great graphics.

The fights will tough at first, but keep with it. Follow the story and max out your character levels so you can finish the series. It gets twice as good with shadows of amn. keldorn the paladin is without a doubt 'DA MAN', then there is the averial without wings who is a mage/cleric.